SU-30SM, SU-35S, and SU-34 flying in formation - Sputnik International, 1920
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Washington OKs Taiwan Aid Under Sovereign State Program as US-China Tensions Persist

© AFP 2023 / SAM YEHTaiwanese soldiers fly in US made Black Hawk helicopters during the military Han Guang drill at the Taoyuan International Airport on July 26, 2023
Taiwanese soldiers fly in US made Black Hawk helicopters during the military Han Guang drill at the Taoyuan International Airport on July 26, 2023 - Sputnik International, 1920, 31.08.2023
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Beijing has repeatedly berated Washington for pumping Taipei with weapons, something that is seen by the PRC as a gross violation of Chinese sovereignty.
Washington has okayed a military aid to Taipei under a program typically used for sovereign states, in a move that will almost certain anger China and add to further militarization of Taiwan.
The Biden administration’s notification, which was seen by a UK news agency, briefed congressional committees on the State Department's decision to commit about $80 million to Taiwan within the framework of the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) observes PLA(N) LUYANG III DDG 132 (PRC LY 132) execute maneuvers in an unsafe manner while conducting a routine south to north Taiwan Strait transit alongside the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Montreal (FFG 336), June 3. USS Chung-Hoon is on a routine deployment to U.S. 7th Fleet and is assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF 71)/ Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. CTF 71/DESRON 15 is the largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. - Sputnik International, 1920, 01.08.2023
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"FMF will be used to strengthen Taiwan's self-defense capabilities through joint and combined defense capability and enhanced maritime domain awareness and maritime security capability," the notification reportedly read.
Beijing, which perceives Taiwan as an essential part of China, has not commented on the matter yet, while the Taiwanese Defense Ministry expressed its thanks, but added that they had no comment on the details of the FMF aid.
The developments come a week after the State Department approved $500 million worth of F-16 Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems and related equipment to Taiwan. This was preceded by the US announcing a Taiwan weapons aid package worth up to $345 million last month.

US-China Tensions

Tensions over Taiwan significantly increased last August after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taipei despite Beijing's warnings against such a visit.
China condemned Pelosi's trip, which it regarded as a gesture of support for separatism, and launched large-scale military exercises in the vicinity of the island.

Although the US does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Washington has a representative office in Taipei and remains the island's biggest supplier of military hardware. The US also often sends its warships and surveillance planes to the Taiwan Strait, with Beijing slamming such missions as provocations and insisting that Washington is nothing but "a security risk creator in the region."

The PRC, which opposes any official contacts between the island and other countries, earlier pledged to promote the process of China’s "peaceful reunification" with the island.
A Taiwanese sailor cleans the deck next to missile batteries on board the ROCS Lan Yang (FFG-935), a US-made Knox-class frigate that formerly served in the US Navy as the USS Joseph Hewes and transferred to Taiwan in 1999 - Sputnik International, 1920, 04.08.2023
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Chinese President Xi Jinping for his part promised that his country would focus on "peaceful development of relations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait" and resist outside interference and separatism. He previously assured that Beijing "firmly adheres to an independent and peaceful foreign policy."
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